The new year is poised to start off with an avalanche of mime talent hitting the capital, with performers from New Zealand leading the way

The London International Mime Festival (LIMF), the longest-established annual theatre season of its kind, returns in January 2015 with innovative visual theatre from around the world – and this year’s artists include a fascinating contingent from New Zealand.

Trygve Wakenshaw stages the London premiere of KRAKEN at the Soho Theatre, a blissfully funny hour of physical stream-of-consciousness, the delirious follow-up to smash hit SQUIDBOY. In addition, a grand piano takes centre stage in Edinburgh Fringe hit THE PIANIST, a co-production between New Zealand’s Thomas Monckton and Finland’s Circo Aereo.

The mime event is comprised of 24 days showcasing 64 performances of productions – almost all London or UK premieres. Performance venues across the capital such as the Barbican, Central St Martin’s Platform Theatre, Jacksons Lane, the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House, Sadler’s Wells, Soho Theatre and Southbank Centre will all be abuzz with mime talent from all over the planet.

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Other highlights include THE PIT at The Barbican. Inspired by Edward Snowden’s revelations, Light conjures an Orwellian future depicted via wordless anime-style storytelling and pulsating soundscape. And The Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House sees the World Premiere of 4X4, a ground-breaking piece supported by Studio Programme, The Royal Ballet, featuring internationally acclaimed Gandini Juggling alongside a group of ballet dancers.

The impressive line-up of shows will be complemented by workshops, films and artists’ talks. Full programme details, including workshops and after-show discussion dates will be available online from 13 October at www.mimelondon.com.